Justice at last: Gillard

Prime Minister
Julia Gillard
said the death of
Osama bin Laden
provided a “small measure of justice" for Australians who were mourning the loss of loved ones in terrorist atrocities.

It was important to remember the 105 Australians who died in the attacks inflicted by al-Qaeda in New York, Bali, London and Mumbai, Ms Gillard said.

“Osama bin Laden declared war on innocent people and today he has paid the price for that declaration," Ms Gillard told a media conference in Canberra.

But she warned that the killing of the bin Laden did not mean Australia could withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. “We’ve seen the leader of al-Qaeda brought to an end but al-Qaeda will continue . . . Afghanistan must never again become a haven for terrorists."

Ms Gillard has committed Australia’s 1550 troops to staying in Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province until Afghan security forces are trained to take over security responsibility. Afghan President
Hamid Karzai
has set 2014 as a deadline for the handover of security from foreign to local forces.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade upgraded its travel advice yesterday, urging travellers to maintain “enhanced vigilance" against the threat of revenge attacks by al-Qaeda overseas.

Former prime minister
John Howard
said bin Laden was a man of “unspeakable evil’’ and the “ultimate mastermind’’ of international terrorism.

“The fanatics who have distorted and perverted a great religion have received a real blow today," Mr Howard said. Bin Laden’s death sent a message to the free world that the fight against terrorism could be successful, he said.